The leading law firm Howes Percival LLP has been named a finalist in the Leicestershire Business Awards 2009 for its REACH series of community initiatives.

It is one of the three finalists for the Contribution to the Community Award, with the winner to be announced on April 24 at the Leicestershire Business Awards ceremony. It is the only law firm or professional service business to make the final in any of the seven categories.

REACH saw Howes Percival’s Leicester office pull out all the stops for a year-long imaginative programme of volunteering and other community initiatives to mark its first decade in the city. There were initiatives in seven aspects of Leicestershire life: conservation; community; rural enterprise; health; education; arts; and sport. They ranged from a music competition for schools which saw hundreds of children compete, to a contemporary art event which saw six artists work on temporary installations around Leicester.

Staff from Howes Percival did garden makeovers, a dragon boat race, cleaned up a stretch of river and its banks, took Leonard Cheshire Disability service users on a Christmas shopping trip, helped primary school children with numeracy, took part in a skydive, completed the Three Peaks Challenge for three children’s charities, and much more. The firm sponsored local Paralympian hopefuls, bought books for secondary school pupils and sponsored the East Midlands Food and Drink festival.

In all, 59 Howes Percival staff got involved, giving 2,600 man hours to the projects, and helping 11 charities along the way. The firm invested £30,000 into the REACH initiative.

Howes Percival managing partner Jit Singh said: “We are delighted and excited to be in the final of these prestigious awards. REACH has been a tremendous success, not only for Howes Percival and its partners and employees but also for the many people and organisations we have helped in ways large and small.

“As well as the tangible improvements to the environment and the indelible memories of events such as the music competition final, there have been new friendships made and strengthened with people in all walks of life in Leicestershire. REACH opened our eyes and our hearts and I thoroughly recommend every business should consider something similar.”

Leicestershire Business Awards organiser Katie Bennett said: “It is great to see a strong regional law firm taking such a proactive role in the community and taking pride in their achievements.”

In the Contribution to the Community Award category Howes Percival lines up alongside the Hinckley & Rugby Building Society and the international property business Hammerson, which developed the new Highcross Leicester shopping area in Leicester city centre.